Continuous treating apparatus



Dec. 22, 1953 A. GOULDING, JR, ETAL 2,663,052

CONTINUOUS TREATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1951INVENTOR.

ALBERT GOULDING,JR. BY MICHAEL JUKICH Dec. 22, 1953 A. GOULDING, JR.,ETAL CONTINUOUS TREATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1951INVENTOR. ALBERT GOULDING, JR. MICHAEL JUKICH Patented bec- 22,

CONTINUOUS TREATING APPARATUS Albert Goulding, Jr., (luyahoga Falls, andMichael Jukich, Akron, Ohio, assignors to Wingfoot Corporation, Akron,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationSeptember 27, 1951, SerialNo. 248,518

Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved form of continuous treatingapparatus of the type embodying a drum and an endless band encompassinga major portion of the drum employed in treating or finishing plasticand rubber material of indeterminate lengths. More par,- ticularly, theinvention pertains to means for adjustably controlling .1 andmaintaining the uniformity of the pressure exerted by the endless bandagainst the drum.

Such continuous treating apparatus as that with which the presentinvention is especially well adapted to be employed has been used ratherextensively for'many years in the vulcanization of rubber mats, conveyorbelts, printers blankets, and other similar products. More recently,continuous treating apparatus of this type has been successfullyemployed in the treatment of various forms of plastics: Such plasticoperations include curing, finishing, laminating, and other similartreatments requiring sustained heat and pressure applied to thematerial.

-By way of illustration only, the present invention will be described indetail as it is applied to continuous treating apparatus such as thatused in the manufacture of vinyl flooring from a plurality. ofsuperposed'plie's of vinyl material of relatively thin gauge. In theproduction of such material withconventional continuous treatingapparatus embodying a heated drum and an endless band encompassing amajor portion of the drum, it is difiicult to achieve and to maintainsufficient compression on the material as it passes around the drum tobond the severalsuperposed plies inseparably together and to produce thedesired finish on the exposed surfaces thereof. Thus, the presentinvention contemplates means for vtheapplication of additionalcontrollable pressure on the traveling material beyond that customarilyachieved solely by the endless band.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel means forapplying uniform and readily controllable pressure of the materialbeingv treated. v I I v It is a furtherobject of the present inventiontoprovide pressure applying means which will achieve the desired resultwithout introducing deflection in the member through which the pressureis applied.

To.th is end the preferred embodiment of the invention employs anendless pressure element encompassing the endless band. The'pressureelement is capable of being adjusted into close c'lontact'under'controlled uniform pressure with theendless' band. -Moreover, one ormore members are disposed transversely of the endless band in contactwith that portion of the endless pressure element which encompasses theendless band and the drum, and means are provided which cooperate withthe remaining portion of the endless pressureelement to urge the memberor members against the encompassing portion thereof.

Thus the pressure element applies a positive and uniform pressureagainst the endless band. At the same time, however, the pressureelement is caused through the medium of a suitable adjustable means toexert pressure against one or more members which in turn produceadditional pressure zones indirectly upon the endless band.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the follow- .ing description of the apparatus illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of continuoustreating apparatus, inthis case a finishing machine employed in themanufacture of laminated vinyl plastic flooring material and othersimilar products and embodying the teachings of the present invention.Fig. 2 is essentially a diagrammatic representation of the machine ofFig. 1 in the form of a vertical section taken adjacent the point ofsuspension of the several rolls with parts omitted and in elevation;

In Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 identifies a continuous treatingapparatus or finishing machine which illustratesa preferred embodimentof the present invention. The finishing machine I is composed of'a' pairof vertically disposed frames 2 which provide mountings for the severalfixed and adjustable bearings for the drum and the several guide rollsin a manner to be described hereinafter. Thefinishing machine I isadapted to receive the stock 3 which in this case is a multiple plyvinyl laminate transported by an endless conveyor belt 4 passing over asupporting roll 5 freely rotatably mounted in bearings 6 on thesupporting structure 1.

The, stock 3 is passed between the surface of the drum 8 and the endlessband 9 which, as will beseen from Fig. 2 of the drawings, encompasses amajor portion of the periphery of the drum. The drum 8 is adapted to beinternally heated by any one of several difierent types of conventionalheating devices employing steam, hot Water, or electrical energy. Thestock 3 enters'between the drum 8 and the endless band 9 at the pointidentified by the reference numeral l0 and is separated from the surfaceof the drum at the point H. The stock 3 is thereafter supported by theendless band 9 until it is withdrawn subsequently in the process foradditional treatment such, for example. as cooling, inspection, andfinal packaging.

The d m. 8 is su g by a ne ize w ly disposed shaft l2 which is rotatablymounted in bearings 13 secured to each of the spaced frames 2 as bymeans of a plurality of bolts 14. It should be noted at this juncturethat the bearing mountings and accessories emplgyed on the single frame2 of the continuous treating apparatus I, as illustrated in Fig. i ofthe drawings, is essentially duplicated with respect 'toa similar framedisposed in spaced relation to the one illustrated in order that bothends of the shaft l2 for the drum 8Vas well as thecther rolls .hereeinafter to be described are satisfactorily supported. As is customary inconventional connuous t a i appar u th W W Which thepresent inventionappliesmeans (not'shown) are provided for actuatin the "drum 8, therebydriving the endless band 9 which is in "frictional contact with theperiphery thereof.

The endless band {9 is supported by a number of freely rotatably mountedro lls l5, I15, 15, Id, [9,"20, 2|, 2-2, and 23. In the course of itspassage over the several rolls previously enumerated it is directedaround {the several cooling drums 24, 25, 2'6, 2'1, and 23. The severalbear- 'ing mountings 29, 35, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 secured to the frame-2"o"f the continuous treating apparatus l -serve t o sup p'ort theseveral shafts '36, 3:1, 118, 39, 4'0, (H, {and 42 for the fixed rolls15, [6,11, flB, i9, 20 and '23,-res1: ectively. Similarly, the severalshafts M, '45, M5 and 4'! js'erveto support the=coolingdrums24, 25, 2 8,2-1, and 2 8,"'re'spectively, m a suitable fi ame structure (not shown)in the arrangement indicated in F E- The shad; wh h u p ts. he ployed insupporting the-endless band -9 is mount- "e'd fat-each end thereof in {abearing block 49 which is -freen *s'lidably positioned between thespaped parallljguiiles 50 *secure'd' -to the frame {2 6 fthe"'co'ntiriiious treaiting apparatus 4. The f 'gbetween the guides 50is maintained by a air of spaceis fl' and fl. Thespacer 52 is providedwith a tapped "hole extending therethrough to receive a screw 53.The-screw 53 1s 'rotatably anchored*in the bearing bleck '49. It willbe-understood that the {adjustment of 'the bearing blo'ck 4 9accomplished by the action of "rotating 'the' scifew 53' will afford acertain de'gre'eof take-up in the endless band-5 and will provide fortheintroduction of tension in In order to insure that the-'endless bandilwill "saitisfactprily -1?em'ain in the proper axial rela- *tion to theseveral supporting rolls over which it is 'direlzte'd, there is provideda means for shifting the band ifn 'a lateral dimension. This isaccomplished bysupportin the-"shatt 54' of the roll 2|, which has a"tapered periphery rather than tlrie norinal' 'cyl infdrical {surface foun'd 'in the oth'r upportiii'g-rolls in a bearing block 55 -at each end*of the -*shaft. this arrangement -will enable--theishaft 54 and itsroll 2 :to Joe-moved in a direction parallel to the travel of the:endless band Q and tc exert or relax pressure against the edge of saidban'd -=as it traverses its path. The operation ofithe device -isinitiated "by any #suitable conventional form of limitccontrol (notshown) having a means for contacting ;the edge Jof the endless' bandw.

The bearing block 55 is slidably mounted in the spaced parallel guides56 secured to the frame 2 of the continuous treating apparatus l. Theparallel relationship of the'guides 55 is maintained by the spacers 51and 58. A pneumatic cylinder 59, actuated by the limit control referredto above, serves'""'to actuate a' shaft secured to the bearing block55." A pair of adjustable stops BI and a similar pair of stops 62 aremounted in the spacers 5! and 58, respectively, to define the extremesof the shiftable movementbf the bearing block in counteractingffor thetransverse movement of the endl ss band will be noted irom the showingof the apparatus in Fig. 2 of the drawings, an endless pressure element6 3 is so positioned that it hugs and substantially 'completelyencompasses the portion of the endless band 9 which encircles the drum3. The pressure. element 63 is supported by the fixed rolls 1 6,1], andL9 previously described in connection with the endless band .9 as wellas a tapered roll 54 similar to the roll 21 and an adjustable roll :65.

The adjustable-roll ,65;is supported by a hori: zcntally disposedshaft.66 which is mounted at each end in a suitable caring block V6.1. fIhebearing block 5-? is adapted to be he held in plac byth guides casecured t0. the iframe adjacent the margins of the aperture 55 in whichthe bearing block is lrnounted. The adjustable movementuof the shaft6.51s accomplished by a hydraulic cylinder all] which can be close yregulatcd to provide the desired tension in the ;.endle.ss pressureelement 63 ?-by moving the bearing block 5 in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig.2.

The tapered roll =54 is adjustably mountedin the same. fashion as thetapered roll .14.. This feature 1 serves to unsure that :if 'ithepressure velement :63 should more in ,aalateral "direction or parallelto theraxes =.0f )itS supporting rolls, it will be realigned in the samemanne s th r n less band isshifted. The shaft 1| ,of theztapel ed rollE4 is .mounted ;at each lend a bearing block s a pos tioned between theifi ll guides-l3 secured to the face of the frame 2 A pair of spacers J4and 15 are disposed at t opp site ends .ofwthe u d s 3, h ,pneur maticcylinder :15, through its shaft {H .cqn ne.cted .to the bearing blockg,-l2, serv es to provide {the desired shift'able m vemen f th shatal asthexendless. u;vpre stsu e e men shi laterally in its position withrespect to the supporting rolls. Arpair of adjustable stops-1 andasimilar 53 d" justable :stop 21.9 are provided "with 151 4 6 257 3 and;1.5,irespectively, to limit the ;extremities .of movement :of :thebearing block 122m fiche :guides 13. The pneumatic cylinder 16 isoperated by a suitable limit: control tnot shown) -yvhich :is so depqsed that it will he gactuate'd'by the edge 'Q' P eressure e eee-Withinthepath of travel of the endless pressure e emen .61 oseonme ie Ite e s;" c fi e ample a iihf 1m LQQY E xrq era 18! may h m iide'd- ,eoll 89 a i wer t st lis n s p n reased P ss th oi eh which the stock Bispassed'iniitspath of "travel from the .point .o to thepoint 1-H on' thedrum inasmuch .as' the. supporting structure f or the rolls so, andfil dng I nrl'erof ae iisun lthe r s u e PHl ed by in? ro ls ar @Vd iby ubsantiallrLemue mewsf til a-b to fldescribe only .one f- -these elementsuni M to afford a complete understanding of the ap-' paratus and itsoperation."

The pressure which is exerted by the members or rubber covered rolls 80and BI in the apparatus is achieved in each case by a pair of adjustablerolls 82 and 83, 84 and 85, respectively. As in the case of th mountingof the rubber covered rolls 80 and 9!, the adjusting features of theseveral adjustable rolls 82 and 83, 84 and 85 are exactly alike. Thedotted arrows in the axes of the shafts 9| for the several adjustablerolls 82, 83, 94, and 85 (Fig. 2) shows the direction in which theadjustment takes place.

The roll 80 is supported by a horizontally disposed shaft 86 which is inturn supported at each end by a bearing block 81 mounted for shiftablemovement in an aperture 88 in the frame '2 between the guides 89 securedto the face of a circular plate 99 defining the outline of the aperture.In this manner the roll 89, and similarly roll 81, will be enabled toexert pressure against the surface of the drum 8 indirectly through theendless pressure element 63 and the endless band 9 in a directiongenerally normal to the axi of the shaft l2 supporting the drum.

The slidable adjustment of the shaft 86 and its roll 89 is achieved bymeans of the rolls 82 and 83 while the similar action with respect tothe roll 8| is achieved by the adjustment of the adjustable rolls 84 and85. The rolls 82 and 83 are each supported by a horizontally disposedshaft 9|, each end of which is disposed in a bearing block 92. Thebearing block 92 in each instance is slidably supported in the aperture93 in the frame 2 and held in place therein by the spaced parallelguides 94. The actuation of the bearing blocks 92 in shifting the shafts9| and their rolls 82 and 83 is accomplished by the adjustment of thehydraulic cylinder 95.

Thus, the pressure exerted upon the drum 8 by the encompassing portionof the pressure element 63 (that part of the element encircling the drumand in contact with the endless band 9) by virtue of the adjustmentprovided by the roll 65, will be readily controllable and uniform. Theremaining portion of the endless pressure element 63 (that part notencircling the drum 8) through the adjustment of the adjustable rolls82, 83, 84, and 85, exerts a uniform pressure against the members 89,'81. Inasmuch as the width of the endless pressure element 63 issubstantially coextensive with the axial dimension of the rolls 80 and8|, there can be no deflection in the rolls and uniformity of pressureagainst the drum 8 is insured.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forthe purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In continuous apparatus for the treatment of plastic and rubbermaterial of indeterminate length embodying a drum and an endless bandencompassing a major portion of the periphery of the drum and subjectingsaid material to uniform pressure as it is passed between the drum andth band, means for adjustably controlling the pressure exerted uponrthematerial by the band comprising an endless pressure element; meanssupporting and guiding the pressure element in such fashion that aportion thereof is disposed in contact with that part of the endlessband which encompasses the drum; at least one 6 l memberdisposedtransversely of the endless band for contact with the above-mentionedportion of the pressure element; and means urging a portion of thepressure element against the member.

2. In continuous apparatus for the treatment of plastic and rubbermaterial of indeterminate length embodying a drum and an endless bandencompassing a major portion of th periphery of the drum and subjectingsaid material to uniform pressure as it is passed between the drum andthe band, means for adjustably controlling the pressure exerted upon thematerial by the band comprising an endless pressure element; meanssupporting and guiding the pressure element in such fashion that aportion thereof substantially completely encircles and is disposed incontact with that part of the endless band which encompasses the drum; aplurality of members di posed transversely of the endless band forcontact with the above-mentioned portion of the pressure element; andmeans urging a portion of the pressure element against each of themembers.

3. In continuous apparatus for the treatment of plastic and rubbermaterial of indeterminate length embodying a drum and an endless bandencompassing a major portion of the periphery of the drum and subjectingsaid material to uniform pressure as it is passed between the drum andthe band, means fOr adjustably controllingthe pressure exerted upon thematerial by the band comprising an endless pressure element; a.plurality of freely rotatably mounted rolls supporting and guiding in apath such that at least a portion of the pressure element is in contactwith the endless band, one of said rolls being movable to vary thetension applied to the pres-- sure element; a plurality of rotatablemembers: disposed transversely of the endless band and; arranged inspaced mutually parallel relation with:

respect to the axis of the drum for contact with; the aforementionedportion of the pressure ele-- ment; and means disposed in straddlingrelation to each rotatable member for urging a portion of the pressureelement thereagainst.

4. In continuous apparatus for the treatment of plastic and rubbermaterial of indeterminate length embodying a drum and an endless bandencompassing a major portion of the periphery of the drum and subjectingsaid material to uniform pressure as it is passed between the drum andthe band, means for adjustably controlling the pressure exerted upon thematerial by the band comprising an endless pressure element; a pluralityof freely rotatably mounted rolls supporting and guiding in a path suchthat at least a portion of the pressure element is in contact with theendless band, one of said rolls being movable to vary the tensionapplied to the pres sure element; a plurality of rotatable membersdisposed transversely of the endless band and arranged in spacedmutually parallel relation with respect to the axis of the drum forcontact with the aforementioned portion of the pressure element; a pairof rotatably mounted adjustable rolls disposed in contact with aremaining portion of the pressure element in straddling relation to eachrotatable member; and means mounting each adjustable roll for exerting apredetermined pressure against the rotatable member.

5. In continuous apparatus for the treatment of plastic and rubbermaterial of indeterminate length embodying a drum and an endless band mping a maj r portion of the periphery me a-e52:-

m' "my? of freely} roe et pi mounted r5113 sup;

pbr tin and guiding. the} pjr esspre element in snph hi n the? t S b t 11 15 1Blw pmn l fp xemi filr the drum'wwiigh a pqrtion oi s ai dpressureeiqment being agrra-ngedvtopgnfiacii that part. Qfjthe; endfi e:band Winch 1d0 11 s\ s= h dr ile the. remaining b itioni r h reesu eelemw DfiQBilo fiwaxdly romf he n qtine. P rtion thereof, one of said rollgbeing mquntedjfor shiik pl moyementhq.in rpduge a predetermined ten:sioii, n' the pressure eleme aa r of mem:

berg disposed between the sp a c ed cpn fiagjaing and e- 1 R I t e e s ie e m nt,..the

e iel men On bf e391? qt? s i'slimemberseing, ips n a l yn qb xr len veW h finfz he-dr m; 20

sliglgblemounting fprf each adjustable roll; and

apressureresponsivedevice. in each mounting for urgin gjtheadjuetablerolls against the pressure element and the member.

ALBERT GOULDING, J3.

MICHAEL J'UKICH.

References Cited in the fileofthis patent UN -"I STATES P TENT Number,Name Date 1,060,122; Prosing Apr. 29., 1913 2,143,627; Knowla-nd .Jan,10, 1939 2,182,168. Bierer Dec.u5, 19.39

